Nash County DSS accepting energy assistance applications

Low-income households with a person 60 or older or someone receiving disability benefits and services through the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services can apply for help with home heating expenses this week.

The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment directly to their heating vendor to offset the high cost of warming their homes during the cold weather months. Depending on the household’s primary heating source, the payment will be $200, $300 or $400.

The assistance is available to eligible households through the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program from Dec. 3-31. Beginning Jan. 2, all other low-income households may apply for assistance through March 29 or until funds are exhausted.

Last year, the program provided roughly $32 million to help more than 128,000 households pay their heating bills from December 2017 through March 2018.

“This funding can help assist eligible individuals and families with their heating expenses during the winter months,” David Locklear, deputy director of economic and family services in the state Division of Social Services, said in a statement. “We want to ensure families are healthy and safe during some of the most difficult times of the year.”

To be eligible, a household must:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets eligibility criteria

• Have income equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal poverty limit, such as:

• For a household of one, an income of $15,782 or less

• For a family of four, an income of $32,630 or less

• Have resources, such as saving and checking accounts, cash on hand, at or below $2,250

• Be responsible for the household heating costs

The Nash County Department of Social Services will take applications for the program from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on the first floor of the Claude Mayo Jr. Administration Building, located at 120 W. Washington Street in Nashville.